Sliding slat drape



June 12, 1951 c. J. REIMULLER SLIDING SLAT DRAPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 30, 1949 'IN V EN TOR.

June 12, 195] c, J RElMULLER 2,556,942

' SLIDING SLAT DRAPE Filed June 50, 1949 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDING SLAT DRAPEChristian I. Reimuller, Glendora, Calif. Application June 30, 1949,Serial No. 102,285

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian drapes, and morespecifically to the Sliding Slat Drape described and shown in myco-pending application, Serial #780,698, filed October 18, 1947, nowabandoned, and to the method of accomplishing a better end result by:

1. Simplification,

2. Sizereduction,

3. Design improvement.

In the broad sense, this improvement consists of a more adaptivearrangement which uses less parts of simpler design, while at the sametime bringing about a drastic size and cost reduction of the endproduct.

Therefore, the prime object is tofurnish a Venetian drape of thecharacter indicated that is basically simpler and more cheaplymanufactured than the device described particularly in my co-pendingapplication cited above.

Other objects enumerated in number inmy co-pending application aresatisfied completely by this form of embodiment.

The improvements described herein consist of the following:

1. To provide complete manual control for initiating the sliding and/orrotation of the slats While at any point of repose.

2. To provide the means for rotating the slats up to and beyond 180degrees, thereby allowing all of the slats to be completelyclosed ateither extremity of their rotation, and to provide their easy return bythe elimination of a dead-center characteristic prevalent in my previousdesign hereinbefore cited.

3. To provide the means for aligning. all of the slats so that all oftheir edges make contact simultaneously with the next slat when beingrotated.

4. To provide a simpler and cheaper method of pull cord guiding andcontrol.

5. To provide a new method of slat suspension which allows closerapproach of all the slats to each other when the drape is drawn back.

- nel 5 by suitable mounting means I2.

- be shown here.

Figure 3 is a rear plan view of the opposite side of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view taken at the arrow 4 of Figure 2 andshows the slat alignment device.

Figure 5 is a transverse view taken at line 55 of Figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are front and side views of the slat and hanger hookassembly.

Figure 8 is an alternative form of hanger hook, partially transverse.

Figures 9 and 10 show a method of holding the lower end of the slats.

Figure ,11 is a partial perspective view of the lower holding channel.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the Venetian drape of the presentinvention comprises a housing I, formed of light gauge metal in such amanner as to leave an open slide channel 2, in which are a plurality ofhanger hooks 3. The hanger hooks 3 are a compound device as willReferring to Figures 1 and 2, the upper end 3a terminates in a helicalextension,. formed flat for insertion into an actuator channel slot 4 ofactuator channel 5. (See Figure 2.) The middle area of the hanger hooks3 are round in section and grooved as at 3b and 3c. The groove 3bengages in the slide channel 2, and the groove 30 is the means providedto carry an eyelet or collar 6 which is fastened to a control cord orstrip I. Said eyelet or collar 6 does not restrict the rotation ofhanger hook 3.

Still farther down on the body of the hanger hook 3 is support hooksection 3d. The nature of the support hook 3d is to provide that theslats 8 be inserted by raising them to an insertion angle to allow theperforation 8a to enter the hook section.

Referring to Figure 3, actuator channel 5 is lowered by the use ofangular guidance slots 9 and engaging lugs 9a attached or part ofactuator channel 5 when said actuator channel is moved from left toright or vice versa. Therefore, this raising and lowering action of theactuator channel 5 will impart rotation to the helical section 3a of thehanger hooks 3 and consequently to the slats 8 whenever said actuatorchannel 5 is moved. Such movement is accomplished and imparted by theuse of pull or draw cords l0 and II, fastened to the center of theactuator chan- This new method of obtaining rotation substitutes inplace of the crank arm used in the device hereinbefore cited.

It is here noted that the helical spiral section 3a of said hanger hookcan be fabricated using a light, semi-flexible spring material to act asa shock absorbing means during rough handling of the device.

Pull or draw cords l3 and Ill (Figures 1, 2 and 3) are used as the meansto slide the slats to one side as in the operation of uncovering awindow.

The bottom of each slat may be constructed as shown in Figures 9 and 10.The'slat 8 has a pin attached in a suitable manner. Saidpin i5 engagesaslot H5 in the lower holding channel El, said channel extending thefull width of the slat drape. (Figure 11.) Said holding channel ii isloosely mounted by suitable means as in Figure 9 so that a smallrotation of the long' open tube forming holding channel I! frictionallyclamps, thereby restricting any movement of the pin I 5 along thelongitudinal slot 16.

Figure 10 shows a variation of Figure 9 using a triangular shaped tubell in lieu of a round one.

The operation of the Venetian drape is as follows: Sliding of the slats8 from one side to the other, or back, is accomplished by the draw cordsl3 and (Figure 1). Draw cord H5 enters the case and crosses over aconventional pulley shown and extends to the opposite end of the housingi where it fastens to thehanger hook farthest to the right at section30. To draw on the said cord M will move the farthest right hand slat tothe left until, in its movement, it reaches the second slat. The secondslat, the third, and so on, are all picked up and drawn to the left handside where they repose until the reverse action is applied by draw cord13. Said draw cord H3 attaches at the same point as draw cord Hi, and isdrawn partly into the housing when cord i is pulled outward. To pull ondraw cord [3 applies a force and imparts motion to the first slat in adirection to the right. Now, connecting all hanger hooks 3 is a tape orflexible cord 7, and when said cord 7 has been stretched, then thesecond slat will move, and so on until all the slats are in spreadposition. To prevent the last slat from sliding, an anchor orrestraining means is used as shown at 20. In other words, all but oneslat is capable of sliding horizontally.

Rotation of the slats is accomplished by the rote-cords l0 and H.Pulling on cord 10 will transmit longitudinal movement to the actuatorchannel 5, which, during its movement from right to left (Figure 1) iscaused to lower because of its engagement with angular guidance slots 9by use of lugs 9a.

The location of lugs 9a can be adjusted by loosening the screw 91). Suchadjustment by the use of screw 9b may be necessary to cause both ends ofthe actuator channel to be brought into a level position, and inalignment with the slide channel 2 in housing When actuator channel 5 ismoved as described, its corresponding rise or drop is utilized as themeans to impart rotation to the fiat helical spiral extension 9a engagedin the actuator channel slot 3. This same rotation is imparted to theslats 8 hung on the lower section 3(1 by the perforation 8a. The wholebody of the hanger hook 3 revolves while suspended in the slide channel2 'which-en agesand supports the hanger hook at the groove 3b.

It is observed, if viewed from above, that a left hand spiral section 3awill impart right 4 hand rotation to the slat suspended therefrom.

If a Venetian drape is hung in a windy location it is desirous to holdthe bottom ends of the slats. To this end a holding channel I! isprovided, and shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. The pin I5 is suitablyattached to the slat 8, and placed in the holding channel slot l6 bywarping said slat. In Figure 9 the handle l8 serves as a weight torotate the tube which is loosely held by the screw mounting. The centerof gravity of the triangular section shown in Figure 10 is sufficientlydisplaced that it tends to rotate. It will, therefore, rotate or tiltuntil a pinching action results between the pin l5 and the slot I6. Torelease the pins 15, the holding channel I! has to be rotated, in eachcase in a counterclockwise direction fora few degrees. The rotation ofsaid tube l! is accomplished with one hand while the other hand operatesthe roto cords l0 and II, or the draw cords l3 and I4.

Referring to Figure 8, the upset center section 39 serves as a hook. Theslat perforation 8a is slipped over the stem extension so that it comesto rest in a locked engagement at the section 39. A form of this natureis preferably made of wire.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A Venetian drape, comprising a housing open at the bottom to form aslide channel and having angularly positioned guidance slots on its sideto engage lugs forming part of an actuator channel enclosed within saidhousing, said actuator being open'at the bottom to form a guideway slotto allow engagement with a flat helix element extending interiorlyupward and being part of a hanger hook, said hanger hooks beingvertically disposed and slidable have an annular groove that is spannedby said slide channel and have a hook from which to suspend slats,

flexible means interconnecting each hanger hook perforated section intoa normally locked attachment thereto.

4. A Venetian drape as defined in claim 1 to include, and manipulativecords for horizontally sliding substantially all of the said hangerhooks and slats from mutually gathered to mutually spread positions.

CHRISTIAN J. REIMULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the .file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,409,844 Gartelman Mar. 14, 19222,299,095 Knox Oct. 20, 1942 2,422,407 Green June 17, 1947 2,503,441

Kamm vApr. 11, 1950

